Battle Within and Against Sacred Roots
(8 Years Ago)
"Are you okay?" A 6-year-old Touta asked getting the 6-year-old Towa's attention.
"Those guys didn't hurt you, did they?" Touta concerned as he offers his hand to the girl.
"No, I'm fine. I just didn't expect to be rescue by someone when I had to look out for myself." Towa answered and accepted the hand.
"Well, I don't think you'll have to worry about those bullies picking on you anymore." Touta assured.
"Why were those guys picking on you in the first place?" Touta asked.
"They've been calling me a freak because of my white hair." Towa answered, pointing at her hair.
"Whoa, your hair is really white! That is the coolest thing and there is even the red part too!" Touta smiled surprising the white-haired girl.
"You… You really think my hair is cool? It's not weird at all?" Towa asked.
"Why would I think that? If anything, I say having white hair makes you awesome like with my wolf ears and tail." Touta showed his wolf traits to Towa.
"Wow, so those are real?" Towa surprised.
"They are, go ahead and touch them." Touta moved his head down with his ears toward Towa.
"Okay." Towa weirded at first but decided to touch the ears for herself and felt they are soft and fluffy as Touta giggles which made her realize they are real.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Towa said.
"Thanks! Being a wolf is pretty cool." Touta smirked, then realize something.
"Oh yeah, I never told you, my name. Touta Konoe, that's my name." Touta introduced himself.
"I'm Towa Higurashi, it's nice to meet you." Towa smiled.
"Cool, I made a new friend!" Touta cheered with his little fists in the air.
"Come on, let's go have lots of fun together!" Touta grabbed Towa's hand and drag her as he starts running.
Towa was surprise at first and wanted to tell him to slow down as to ask where are they even going though she just smiles, feeling Touta's hand wrapping onto hers is sending her this warm fuzzy feeling into her body and she let out a giggle.
Towa: We didn't know it at the time, but the moment we met and holding our hands together it was like we were brought together by chance, that it was our destiny to find each other like this and something more between us.
(Present)
The current Touta and Towa, along with Setsuna and Moroha have just been requested by the Spirit of the Tree of Time to slay a demon called the Beast King, Kirinmaru.
"Kirinmaru?" Setsuna wondered what kind of demon this Kirinmaru is for the tree spirit to request his kill.
"He's attempting to twist time, swallow this world into the Degenerate Age, and return it back to nothingness." Spirit of the Tree of Time explained of Kirinmaru's plan.
"Wow, that's really harsh." Touta commented as Towa shush him for the spirit is about to tell them more.
"Kirinmaru is king who, alongside the Great Dog-Demon, had longed reigned over the demon beasts. Kirinmaru ruled in the East, meanwhile the one who held power in the West was your grandfather, the Great Dog-Demon." The Spirit explained.
"Cool, you three are related to a strong demon just like me with my mom." Touta amazed.
"Sure, not like I haven't heard that name before." Moroha exclaimed with a finger in her ear.
"Equal in strength, the warriors ruled their lands while keeping watch over each other to maintain the balance of power." The spirit said.
"Let me guess, the Great Dog-Demon is dead and there's no one to help balance the power anymore." Touta said.
"Correct." The spirit nodded and looked towards Towa and Setsuna.
"Your father, Sesshomaru renounced his birthright to the Great Dog-Demon title, walking his own path instead." The spirit mentioned.
Unknown to the teens, they are being watched by a lone figure hiding in the shadows for a moment until that figure walks away as only Touta notice the soft footsteps wondering if there was someone else here too.
"Taking this as an opportunity, Kirinmaru plots to plunge this world into devastation." The spirit said.
"Guess he must've got bored with no rivals to have around." Touta commented.
"The power to travel across time would be a necessary ability in order to stop him." The spirit stated.
"I see, so that's where we come in." Towa said, understanding this.
"Yes. As ones with deep ties to the Great Dog-Demon and the boy being connected to the powerful demon woman known as Zero, you four are the world's best hope to slay Kirinmaru." The spirit pointed out.
"(The more I hear that name, the more I feel like I'm connected to this guy too, but why?)" Touta thought confused a little.
"So, Half-Demon Princesses and Prince, will you accept?" The Tree Spirit asked.
"Don't know about them, but I'll do it. And after I kill him, I expect there to be a great big bounty for me." Moroha grinned.
"I am becoming curious about this Kirinmaru guy, not to mention this makes me excited to fight the guy!" Touta smirked holding his sword forward.
"And what about you, daughters of Sesshomaru?" The spirit asked Towa and Setsuna.
"I refuse." Setsuna answered immediately shocking the other half-demons.
"You will not take up the task?" The Spirit of the Tree of Ages surprised.
"I will not, I deny your request." Setsuna answered again.
"For what reason?" The spirit asked.
"Yeah, sounds to me like you're being an idiot for wasting the opportunity to finally meet you dad." Touta pointed out, earning a slight glare from Setsuna.
"First off, I do not know this Sesshomaru, who you claim to be my father. If all this is due to his failure, I see no reason for us to atone for it. If it's necessary for Kirinmaru to die, then Sesshomaru should be the one deals with it." Setsuna explained her season.
"Tree of Ages, you're asking the wrong people for help." Setsuna said.
"(I hope this doesn't upset the tree.)" Touta thought worried a little.
However, the Tree of Ages does not look upset from the refusal of Setsuna and instead laughs a little.
"It would seem I was correct to place confidence in you." Tree of Ages said surprising the four teens as they gasp.
"Sesshomaru cannot defeat Kirinmaru, that is because these two Beast Kings are currently walking the same path. Defeat Kirinmaru, and Sesshomaru will emerge. Similarly, defeat Sesshomaru then Kirinmaru will. In other words, you must defeat them at the same time." Tree of Ages explained further of her request.
"I don't understand." Setsuna said as Touta is more confused as well.
"This is not atonement for any failures on Sesshomaru's part. What I am asking you for is to defeat two demons walking down the wrong path." Tree of Ages revealed.
"Then that's an even bigger reason than before that we can't do what you're asking of us!" Towa said strongly surprising the girls and Touta smiles at her.
"Even if we've never met him before, you just said Sesshomaru is our father, didn't you? So how could you ask us, his own daughters to do something like that?" Towa asked upset.
This causes both Setsuna to sigh for how Towa is reacting toward this right now while Moroha thinks she is not going to get any reward if she kept talking like this.
"Are you saying that the two daughters of the demon Sesshomaru are refusing to accept my request for their aid?" Tree of Ages asked.
"Yes, that right! You heard me, you can count us out!" Towa answered honestly as Setsuna nods.
"(So much for getting a big bounty.)" Moroha thought groaned.
"Well, I'm still going to fight them." Touta said shocking Towa.
"But that doesn't mean I'm going to kill those guys, if you say I have to kill both of them when one is Towa's father then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed that I won't fulfill that part." Touta said.
"If you will slay them then why do you still wish to face them?" Tree of Ages asked.
"Duh, because I want to make bonds with them and there isn't any other way of making bonds with others than through a clash of strong warriors." Touta explained with a smile.
"Sounds like nonsense of you ask me." Setsuna believed.
"Yeah, but that just how Touta is." Towa smiled, not having Touta to be any other way.
"Huh, that sounds pretty cool." Moroha commented.
"It seems you are unfamiliar with the consequences of disobeying the Tree of Ages." Tree of Ages said with a small smile.
"Listen, I won't let anyone influence the path I choose to walk." Towa said strongly.
"Agree, I will do as I please." Setsuna said her piece of mind.
"I ask one last time. Will you not slay him?" Tree of Ages asked again.
"The answer is no." Setsuna answered as she draws her sword.
"Yeah, mine too!" Towa said bringing out her broken sword and making the demon energy sword.
"Let us pass or we'll cut you down." Setsuna demanded.
"Are we seriously doing this right now?!" Moroha asked freaking out.
"It'll feel weird fighting a tree. I'm actually excited." Touta pointed his Black Moon sword at the Tree of Ages.
"As you wish. Fate is a continuous cycle, we'll meet again." Tree of Ages said before shining into a bright light nearly blinding them.
"Awaken, Root Head. The Rainbow Pearls you desired are going to elude your grasp." Tree of Ages said which awaken the demon.
(Outside the Tree of Ages)
Kohaku, Kaede, and Hisui are standing in front of the Tree of Ages now seeing the suddenly blue glow.
"Lady Kaede, could this presence actually be…" Kohaku feared of this familiar presence.
"Yes, Root Head's demon power is increasing." Kaede said.
"But why?" Hisui asked before the tree suddenly glows brighter worrying the three.
"We should move back! It's too dangerous here." Kohaku said and they all moved away from the sacred tree.
(With Touta and the Girls)
The light died down showing the four have seen to be brought to another location, probably somewhere deeper within the tree.
"Is everyone okay?" Towa asked.
"I'm fine, but I think we made the tree upset." Touta chuckled.
"Where are we?" Setsuna asked as she looks around.
"Uh-oh, of all the places she could've sent us, the Tree of Ages delivered us to Root Head." Moroha exclaimed as everyone looked at the giant eye on one root.
"The Rainbow Pearls will be mine!" Root Head proclaimed.
"If you can take it from us." Moroha smirked.
"I WILL!" Root Head shouted as it sends its roots to attack the four Half-Demon teens.
"Cyclone Burst!" Setsuna destroyed the roots that were coming at her and Towa slashes at the roots that were coming at her.
"Crimson Dragon Wave!" Moroha unleashed the crimson dragon attack destroying more of the roots.
Touta slashes at one of the roots and jumps away when two were trying to attack him as he looks at his new sword.
"(Okay, my mom gave me this sword for my journey and clearly it can do more than slashing.)" Touta thought knowing his mom believes in him.
"Let see what this baby can do!" Touta smirked as he starts channeling his demon energy into the Black Moon.
Meanwhile, the girls are still fighting off the roots as more keep coming taking place of the roots that were destroyed.
"There's no end to them." Towa worried they'll be overwhelmed soon.
"Root Head should have a weak spot. If we can find it…" Setsuna hoped they'll find the weakspot soon.
Root Head send off a demonic wave that causing Towa's demon energy sword to fade fast.
"Wh-What's going on? My Kikujumonji is fading!" Towa shocked.
"Your demon power is being drained, that's no good." Moroha alerted.
"Moroha, is there any way to stop it?" Setsuna asked.
"I can help with that." Touta said though the girls couldn't see him anymore.
Then Towa looks up seeing something unbelievable, a shadow is moving on the side where Root Head can't see with its one eye and Touta came out of that shadow.
"Touta!" Towa surprised.
"Take this!" Touta slashed at the eyeball causing Root Head to scream in pain and stopping the draining wave which gave Towa her demon power back.
"That was awesome!" Moroha amazed.
"Now's our chance to hit it all at once." Setsuna said.
"Scourge of Swallows!" Setsuna unleashed her green demon blast at Root Head.
"Heavenly Arrow Barrage!" Moroha fired her arrows striking at the body too.
Then Moroha notice something under Root Head's eye, a light shining which she realizes must be the weak spot.
"Towa, aim for the spot right under his eye! That's it's weak spot, now finish him off!" Moroha informed.
"Come on, Towa! Let's do this together!" Touta offered to help with his sword glowing black and red.
"Right." Towa nodded.
Then a root try to attack Touta from behind, but Moroha saw this and quickly threw the keppa foot causing it to back away.
"Wow, that really was a good luck charm! Thanks grandpa!" Moroha smiled.
"Don't hesitate. Don't hesitate. DON'T HESITATE!" Towa shouted with her body glowing of her demon aura and her left eye of the silver Rainbow Pearl.
Both unleash their power at Root Head together with Towa being in the form of a blue dragon and Touta is a black wolf with red glowing.
"What the…?" Setsuna shocked.
"Towa and Touta's demon energy turned into a blue dragon and a black wolf!" Moroha surprised.
Both attacks hit the weak spot at the same time destroying Root Head once and for all, and four teens are now pulled into the corridor again and drop in front of the Sacred Tree.
Then Moroha's giant backpack landed on top of her along with Setsuna's violin case.
"Oh, are you okay down there, Moroha?" Towa asked concern.
"Wow, we're really here! The Feudal Era!" Touta amazed.
"Setsuna! You're back!" Kohaku and Hisui called out to her.
"I'm glad you're safe." Kohaku smiled.
"I am and I've finally managed to return." Setsuna said.
"Thank goodness for that." Kohaku said.
"What happened to Root Head? I can't sense his demon energy anymore." Kaede asked.
"We killed that crusty old weed." Moroha answered.
"You did what? Is that really true?" Kaede shocked.
"Yep, me and Towa finished it off together with our combined demon power." Touta smiled, but Towa gasp.
"(That's right, if we defeated Root Head, how are we going to get back to the Modern Era?)" Towa thought asked.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all." Towa worried.
"Hey Towa, is everything okay, look like you've seen a ghost." Touta asked.
"We might as well be ghost if we want to make it back to the Modern Era." Towa exclaimed, then is hugged by her boyfriend.
"Don't worry, everything will work out A-okay. I don't know how, but I know as long as we're together then we can do the impossible." Touta smiled strongly making Towa smile too.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Towa nodded and the two kiss.
"So, who are those two?" Hisui asked curious about the couple.
"It's a long story." Setsuna said, feeling oddly weird of watching this.
(Unknown Spiritual Location)
The Spirit of the Tree of Ages is seen at the blue tree again looking towards it and thinking about the four half-demons turning down her request, while a strange butterfly is flying around.
"Those children have such strong fighting spirits. They had the audacity to deny the wish of the Tree of Ages." Tree of Ages impressed.
"Are you sure about this?" Tree of Ages asked the lone figure from before.
"If you choose to forsake this girl, she will never awaken." Tree of Ages said showing a young woman within the blue tree.
The lone figure said nothing as he turns around and leaves the place.
"He noticed you earlier." Tree of Ages said causing the lone figure to stop.
"That boy, Touta Konoe, the son of Zero, managed to notice your presence for an instant even though you were concealing yourself completely. It would appear he has sharper instincts to be the lover of one of your daughters." Tree of Ages smiled, but no response from the lone figure and walked away.
"I suppose this is one path as well. Perhaps this is all for the best, to remain unchanged." Tree of Ages believed.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
The four Half-demons have finally arrived in the Feudal Era where their true adventure will start to find a way to cure Setsuna from the Dream Butterfly and will be on the look out for Kirinmaru as they will be to prepare themselves for that fated encounter.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!